Starter-motor-controlling means



Sept. 9'. 1924. 1,507,741

A. T. KIRK ET vAL I STARTER MOTOR CONTROLLING'MEANS Filed Feb. 5, 1922 2 Shntl-Shcot ll lllmllll7 '1,507,741 A. T. KIRK ET AL STARTER MOTOR CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Feb. 5, 1922 2 Shlll-Shli 2 sept. '9. 1924.

Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNiTED STATES -PAATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN T. KIRK, WILLIAM T. KIRK, .AND DEBEN E. BARBER, OF CHICAGO', ILLINOIS.

STARTER-MOTOBfCONTROLLING MEANS.

application inea February s, una.V serial No. 533,549.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ALLEN T. KIRK, VILLIAM T. KIRK, and ORREN E. BARBER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starter-Motor-Controllin Means, of which the following is a full, c ear, concise, and exact description, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved circuit for a starting motor for an automobile, and also to the circuit controlling apparatus for carrying out the functions of the circuit. In starting motors of the type in which the driving gear is caused to mesh with the driven gear, due to the initial rotary movement of the starter motor shaft,

it has been found that when the circuit is closed through the motor windingfthe shaft starts to rotate with such velocity and power that when the gears are brou ht into mesh, due to the rotary movement o the shaft, the teeth of the gears are oftentimes broken, thus making necessary undesirable delays and expensive replacements.

The object of the present ,invention is to provide a circuit controlling device and a circuit for starter motors of this type which will avoid the undesirable features above noted.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of a circuit and controllin means therefor, which will cause a limite supply of electrical energy to be furnished to the starting motor during its initial or gear meshing operation, and upon a subsequent movement of the circuit controllin device will cause the full energy of the attery to be supplied to the motor to cause the motor to turn the engine over.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means in the circuit controlling the provision of means which tend to prevent excessive sparking of the switch contacts carrying the full current from the batteig at the time the contacts are opened.

ther features and advantages of the invention will appear from time to time as the description o the invention progresses.

In the drawings- Figure 1 shows a transverse section through the floor board or toe board of an automobile, and applicants circuit controlling device, or switch attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a section through the switch substantially at right an les to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a circuit iagram schematically indicating the circuit connections for the starter and switch;

Figure 4 is a transverse section throu h the toe board of an automobile, and a mo ii'ied form of controlling device; e

Figure 5 is a section on ythe line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram indicating the circuit connections for the modification of Fi ures 4 and 5.

Re erring now to the drawings, 10 indicates the oor or toe board of the automobile, to which is secured the framework or housing of the switch. This housing is av box-like structure comprising the plate 11 arranged to be secured tothe floor board 10 by means of the bolts or screws 12, the end plates 13, 14, the bottom plate l5, and the side plate 16, all integral with the late 11, and the removable side cover ate 17, ada ted to be secured in position g of t e screws 18.

The plate 11 is provided with an upwardly extending boss 19 which is received in an opening in the oor board. Extending throu h the boss 19 and the adjacent ortion o the plate 11 is a bearing 20,

rough which the operating plunger 21 of the switch i's longitudinally movable.-

ySecured to the upper end of the plunger 21 by means of a screw 22, or any other desired manner, is the plate 23 adapted tol be engaged by the foot of the user in the o eration of the switch. Surrounding the p unger 21, and positioned between the boss 19 and the plate 23 is a spiral spring 24, which normally tends to maintain the plunger in y meansy and 2.

about is the insulating block 47.

Secured to the plunger 21 about midway 'of its length, as by the pin or set screw 25,

is a collar or. washer 26. Mounted about the plunger 21, above the collar 26 is awasher 27 and collar 28, both of any suitablel insulating material. Mounted about the collar 28 is the conducting element 29 provided with the contacts 30 and 31, arranged to engage the fixed contacts 32 and 33 respectively, which are secured to the end walls 14 and 13 respectively by means of the bolts 34 and 35.

The plate 11 is provided with downwardly extending lugs 36 and 37 about which are positioned the coil springs 38 and 39, which normally tend to force the contacts 3G and 31 into engagement with the xed contacts 32 and 33. A strip 40 of insulating material is provided between the switching element 29 and the ends of the springs 38 and 39.

While the springs 38 and 39 normally tend to force the contacts 30 and 31 down- 13 respectively by the L-shaped strips 41` and 42 of insulating material. The clamp- L ing bolts 34 and 35 are also insulated from the end plates 14 and 13 by means of the insulatingcollars 43 and 44, and the insulating washers 45 and 46.

The plun er 21 below the washer 26 is reduced in iameter, and positioned tereositioned about the inner portion ofthe block Ythreaded on the plunger.

. art ofthe bearin 51 e p im 47 is the central portion of the curved strips 48 of conducting material. The strips 48 are maintained in position by bein clamped between the block 47 and the insulating washer 49 by means of the nut 50 screw- The end of the plunger 21 remote from the -toe plate 23 is slidably received by the opening or bearing Arranged in a position to be simultaneously engaged by the opposite ends of the conducting strips 48 are the `fixed contacts 52 and 53. The contact 52 is formed integral with the contact 33. Contact 5 3, however, is electrically separated from the contact 32 and is secured to the end plate 14 by means of the bolt54, -which is insulated -from the end plate by means of the collar 55, and washer 56 both of insulating. material@ Positioned about the boss 57 which forms is a relatively heavy coiled spring 58. s spring preferably lis made rectangular in cross-section as is the material of a lock washer. The spring 58 is of such a length that when the plun er 21 is moved downwardly the spring will e engaged by the washer 59 ixed on the plunger etween the nut 50 and the insulating collar 49, just before the conducting strlps 48 en age the contacts 52 and 53.

hus, in the operation of the device, the user .will place his foot upon the plate 23 and press downwardly, causing the contacts 30.and 31 to en age the fixed contacts 32 and 33 respective y. This first movement of vthe plunger will be brought about by a comparatively light pressure upon the late 23. However, after the contacts 30 an 31 are brought into engagement-.with the contacts 32 and 33, but before the strips 48 become effective, to bridge contacts 52 and 53, the washer, 59 will come into enga ement with the end of spring 58, thus ten ing to stop the downward movement of the plunger, which may be brought about by a relativelv light pressure and necessitating a comparatively `heavy pressure on the plate 53 to cause the strips 48 to engage the .contacts 52 and 53. Between the plates 16 and 17 and the operating members of the switch are the sheets 60 and 61- which operate to prevent the electrical engagement of any of the movable switching elements with the housing. v

Refer-ring now to Figure 3, 62 indicates a flywheel or other movable art of the motor, attached to which is t e starting gear wheel 63. At 64 is indicated a starting motor, having the shaft 65 formed with spiral SOA grooves or threads external to the motor v the initial rotation of the starter shaft causes the driving gear on the starter shaft to be brought into mesh with'the driven gear.

At 67 is indicated the usual storage battery em loyed in starting and lighting systems. ne pole of the battery is grounded or connected to the frame of the machine.-

The othervpole is connected to contacts 33 and 52, b means of conductor 69 and binding post 0. One end of the starter motor winding is grounded, the other end yof the winding belng connected directly to contact 53, and to contact 32 through the resistance 68.

, When the operating plunger 21 is depressed by the user, contacts 30 and 31 will engage contacts 32 and 33, thus completmg the circuit from grounded battery through the contacts in series with resistance 68 and the windinglof the starting motor back to ground, or t e frame of the machine. Shortly after the contacts 30 and 31 ,starting motor shaft sulliciently to cause engagement of the driving gear 66, with the driven gear 63. Due to the resistance 68 in this preliminary circuit, the shaft 65 will not be rotated with enou h force to cause damage to the gear teet when they are brought into engagement. Y

The user noting the increased resistance on the plungere21 will` now press'downwardly with increased force, and cause the strips 48 to brid the contacts 52 and 53, thus permitting t e full voltage of the battery to flow to the starting motor winding. During the time the contacts 52 and 53 are bridged by the strips 48, contacts 30 Vand 31 will still be in engagement with contacts 32 and 33, but practically no current will flow through contacts 30 and 31, at this time, as the resistance in series with them is'short circuited by the practically no-resistance path, including contacts 52 and 53. Upon removal of pressure from the plate 23, the' engagement of strips 48 with the contacts 52 and 53 is first broken. Excessive arcing at these contactsl is prevented by the fact that they are in parallel with the circuit through contacts 30 and 31 in series with lresistance 68. An instant later, the circuit through the contacts 30 and 31 is interrupted, but due to the. relatively small amount of current flowing through the contacts 30 and l31, no detrimental spark will,

occur, due to breaking this circuit.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 1'to 3, the resistance 68 may be located at anyconvenient point as on the instrument board of the machine. The form shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 has exactly the same function. as the arrangement of ures 1, 2 and 3, but diiers therefrom 1n certain details of construction, and further in the fact that the resistance has been mounted within the switch housing, thus ne-` cessitating only two binding posts or connection .terminals on the outside of the switch. Due to this arrangement, there is no danger of the switch being improperly connected to the circuit. All that is necessary is to connect one of the binding posts to the ungrounded pole of the battery, and the other-binding post to the ungrounded side of the starting motor windingi,

In Figures 4 and 5, 71 and 72 represent the end walls, and 73 and74 the side walls of l.' portion of the housing. vParts 71 to 74 inclusive are in the form of a rectangular tube o n atI both tends. -The lower end of the ousing 'tube is closed by means o f the cover plate 75 provided with the boss 76 having a perioration therein throu h which extends the reduced end 77 of t e plunger member 78. The upper end of the ousing is closed by the cover plate 79 which 1s held in position by being clamped against the toe board 80. The end members 71 and 72 are provided at the upper ends thereof with right angularly extending flanges 81 and 82 adapted to receive the screws or bolts 83, by means of which the switch may be secured to the toe board 80. The flanges 81 and 82, it will be understood, project through portions cut away from the downwardly extending flanges 84 of the cover member 79.

`The cover plate 79 is provided with the i annular flange 85 which extends upwardly through an o ing in the toe board 80. The plunger 8 at the upper end thereof is provided with the cup-shaped plate 86 having the downwardly extending flange 87 adapted to engage lthe outer surface of flange 85. member 71 is an insulating strip 88, and vspaced therefrom isl a second insulating strip 89. Between the strips 88 and 89 is positioned the resistance coil 90. The space about coil 90 is preferably lled in by insulating material 91 which may be poured in in a molten condition.

Secured to the inner side of the insulating strip 89, by means of the bolts or rivets 92, is a metallic strip 93, to which is secured, in any desired manner, a contact terminal 94. One end of the resistance coil 90 is conductively connected to the contact 94. Also securedto the inner surface of the strip 89. by means of the' bolts or rivets 95, is a metal strip 96 to which is secured the contact member 97. Projecting from the lower side of the contact 97 and through alined openings in the insulating strip 98 and the cover member 75 is a screw threaded lug 99. On the lug 99 is an insulating collar 100 and an insulating washer 101 which is engaged by the clamping nut 102, thus serving to assist in maintaining the cover plate 75 in position.

Secured to the end 72 of the housing is a conducting strip 103. Between the strip 103 and the end member 72 is. an insulating strip 104, thewhole being secured together by means of the bolts or rivets 105 which are insulated from the metallic strip 103 by means of the collars 106. Secured to the strip 103, in any desired manner, are the contacts 107 and 108. Projectin down- In engagement with the end wardly from the contact 108 throug alined 'I' the eover plate 75, is a screw threaded lug 110, the cover plate 75 being clamped in position by means of thenut 111.., Lug 110 .and `nut 111` are insulated from the housin by meanso the .insulating washei112 a theinsulatin collar 113. Fixed to t e I lplunger 78, inaiiy desired manner,` is a co ar 114. Loos'elyf' mounted Y on the' plun r` 78 above the collar-114k the e contact bri 'ng member 115 upon opposite sides: of, whigdh are insulat' washers 116 and .117, respectively. A co ar :1.18ct insulating material is provided between "the plunger- 7 8 and the contact bridging member 115. Positioned about the plunger 78 `and between the washer 117 and the plun er 7 8,' as hereina r described, the con- 1 tact ridging member 115 is adapted to en-4 neo gge and conductively join contacts 94 and, l Positioned about thefreducedportion of the plunger 78 is a metallic washer 120 and a washer 121 of insulating material. 'Also mounted about-the reduced rtionl ofthe o plunger 78 is av contact bri ging member 122, an insulating washer 123, and a metallic washer 124, the parts 120 t 124 iiiclusive being firmly secured tothe plunger by means of the nuts-.125. The. contact bridging member 122 is spaced from the l pinger by means of the'insulating coller 'About the reduced portion-17 of the plunger is a compression coil` sprin 1127' which .has one end in engagement wit the washer 124, and the other in engagement with the end member 75. This spr-ing tends to normally maintain the switchin parts in ally the lsaine as thatof Figures 1 and 2. A0n

the plunger being depressed by the foot of the operator against the tension of the spring 127, the contactA brid member 115 is forced downwardly by spring 119, causingit Y to engage contacts 94 and 10,7, thus complating a circuit VJfrom conductor 131, through the binding. post lug 99, Vcontact 97,v resistance coil V90,iwhicli is secured to plate 96, strip 93, cgntact 94, bridging contact mem# ber 115;' Contact 107, strip los, eonmt'ios,

bin post lug'110 toconductor l132.

conductors 131 or 132 is connected to the ungrounded pole of. thev battery slongas the otherl one is i connected tdthenngrounded sidef'themotor plate 86'is" la coil spring 119. U on depressionof the veistated, it isimmaterial which of-- v tinuous movement v o ci; v't'gis asentar resisted to a slight extent by the spring 119- which acts to maintain the brid ing member. 115 lirml lin en agement wit contacts 94 and 97. the the plunger continues,'was.her 124 enga es lthe u per end of the s'tii spring 128 just eownward movement of fore ridging member 122 engages contacts 97 and 108. This engagement with the spring 128 tends'to momentarily -retard'the downward movementof the plunger, thus giving the motor time to rotate sucientl'y to cause the driving gear to mesh with the driven gear. rllhe operator' will now exert a harder pressure on plate 8'6, causing the lmemberI 122 to bridge the -contacts 97 and 108, thus ermitting the entireA battery potential to supplied to the,starter motor Whilein the aboveV description and in the drawings certain definite embodiments of :vious that many modifications in the structure of the circuit controllin device would suggest. themselves tolonfe ski ed in the art, also inthe circuit arrangement controlled thereby. For instance, instead of Ahaving "fthe li'r'st set. of contacts' close al circuit includ- 'ing aresistance in series with the winding,

the4 invention have been disclosed, it-is obl:an obvious but less desirable manner would be tofhave these contacts close a circuit from some middle point` in the battery andarran e thestrips 48ito close a circuit, in- I clu ingthe entire battery, the first set o contacts, of course, bein opened at the instant the second set are c osed to avoid shorty' Other'- ugfgest f circuiti'n'g a portion modifications and variations wi ythemselves to those skilled in the art.

ci the battey.

The :essential feature of this invention,

however, is the arrangement which, upon the initial movement of the controlling device, closes a circuit to sulpply to the starterniotor winding current of ess otential than is supplied to the starter win ing when the second set of contacts are closed, and means which will indicate to the user in some manner or other when the first set have been closed and This indicating means will preferably bein the form of an increased resistance, which.

will cause a momentary pause in the downward or inward movement of the circuit controlling plunger.

merely b the scope of the appended claims. What claim is new` and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the'United Statesis:

1. Ina circuitcontrolling. device, an opmember, a set of contacts, a second Y @rating set of contacts, the contacts of said sets rior to the closure of the second set..

It is to be understood, A. therefore, that the invention is to be limited respectively being arrangedto be brought successiir y into en agement u on con- A said mem r, and means made operative after the contacts'of ice'y to the engagement of the contacts of the second set for indicating to the operator that the rst set of contacts are in engagement.

2. In a circuit controlling device, an operating member, a set of contacts a second set` of contacts, the contacts Vof' said sets respectively being arranged to be brought successively into 'engagement upon continuous movement of said member, and means made operative after the contacts of the irst set are in engagement tending to delay the engagement of the second set of con- A tacts.

3. In a circuit controlling device, an operating member, a set of contacts, a second set of contacts, the contacts of said sets respectively being arranged to be brought successively into engagement upon continued movement of said member, and resilient means made operative after the engagement of the contacts of the first set and before the engagement of the contacts of the second set for resisting the further movement of said operating member.

4. In a circuit controlling device, an operating member, a set of contacts, a second vao set of contacts, the contacts of said sets respectively being arranged to be brought into engagement successively upon continued movement of said member, and a spring arranged to be engaged by said operating member after the engagement' ci the contacts of said rst set, but before the engagement of the contacts oi' the second set, for resisting the further movement of said operating member. 5. In a circuit controlling device, a longitudinally movable operating member, a pair of fixed contacts, a movable contact member adapted to electrically connect said fixed contacts, resilient means normally tending to iorce said movable contact member toward said fixed contacts, and resilient` means engaging said o erating member normally maintaining sai contact member out of engagement with said fixed contacts.

6. In a circuit controlling device, a longitudinally movable operating member, a pair of fixed contacts, a movable contact member adapted to electrically connect said fixed contacts, resilient means normally tending to force said movable contactmember toward said fixed contact, resilient means engaging said o erating member normally maintaining sai contact memberout of enga ment with said fixed contacts, a secon set of contacts, a contact member ada ted to electrically join the contacts of sai second set, and a spring arran d to be engaged by said operating mem er just prior to the engagement of said second mentioned contact member with the second pair of fixed contacts.

7. In a circuit controlling device, an opmember, a source of eiectrical ener erating member, a pair of independent .fixed contacts, a pair of movable contact members adapted to electrically engage said fixed contacts respectively, resilient means normally tending to force one of said movable contact members into engagement with its respective fixed contact, and resilient means engaging said operating members for normally maintaining said contact member out of engagement with said fixed contacts.

8. In a circuit controllin able contact operating mem er, a fixed contact, a movable contactmember adapted to electrically engage said fixed contact, resilient means normally tending to force said movable contact member toward said fixed contact, resilient means engaging said operating member for normally `maintaining said contact member out of engagement with said fixed contact, a second iixed contact, a second movable contact member adapted to engage said second fixed contact, and a spring arran ed be engaged by said operating mem r just prior tc `the engagement of said second-mentioned contact member with the second fixed contact..

9. In a circuit controlling mechanism, a housin a pair cf terminal or binding posts on sai housin a pair oi stationary contacts, a pair o movable contacts and a resistance all within said housing, one of the stationa contacts being 'joined direct to one of said inding posts and the other iixed contact being joined to the said binding post through said resistance, an actuating member arranged to bring the said movable contactssuccessively into en agement with said iixed contacts respective y, and means for joinin said movable contacts to said other binding post.

10. In a circuit controlling mechanism, an operating member, a set of contacts, a second set of contacts, the contacts of said sets being arranged to be brought respectively into engagement uponcontinued movement of said member, a source of electrical energy, an outgoing circuit, a resistance, said iirst set of contacts being arranged to close a device, a movseries circuit from said source through said resistance to said circuit, said second set being arranged to short-circuit said resistance, and resilient means made operative subsequent to the closure of the circuit throu h said resistance, but prior to the closure of tie second set of contacts, for resisting the closure o the second set of contacts.

11. In a circuit controlling mechanism, an operating member, a set of contacts, a second set of contacts, the contacts of said sets being arranged to be brought respectively into engagement upon continued movement of said an outgoing circuit, a resistance, said st set of contacts being arranged to close a series cirn l inseam cuit from sank?, source through said resistance In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe l@ to said Cirami-t, said second set being nr- ,our names,`this 18th dey of January, 1922. l ranged -`n^siiong-circuit said resistance, and ALLEN T' HRK a` spring arranged to be engaged by said og- M Elf L T KIRK `5 erating member after ther engagement of i: e l E BER cemaes eff iie Erst set, and prior to the eny agement the contacts of the second set, Witnesses: .Y

or resisaing further movement of the said yE J. BOURGEOIS, annember. Daems Pn 

